Partnership is a core element of Open Forum’s
approach. Open Forum’s vision of partnerships
is based on the belief that the best partnerships
are those bound by common concerns and common
vision, with each partner having clear focus
and objectives that can potentially emerge into
synergistic goals. Open Forum sees itself as
a platform for the protection of rights of child
that complements global partnerships engaged
in the realization of the Millennium Development
Goals.
Alliance building has been aimed towards positioning
ICTs strategically for promoting the voices
of the poor and marginalized on issues of concern.
Open Forum also sees the criticality of strengthening
actions around the Nation undergoing on Development
Issues. The challenge is to ensure basic principles
of human rights, equity, credibility, joint
initiatives for learning and sharing, as well
as transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.
Open Forum is well recognized for its technical
capabilities to offer strategic advisory; to
develop technical solutions for building multi-mode
digital content in text, multimedia, audio and
video; and to provide help-desk on content management,
knowledge management, and other information
based services. Our existing and potential partners
have been encouraged to seek benefit of these
capabilities in the realms of their own work.
Implementation measures
Whereas Open Forum’s management has the
overall responsibility for implementing and
monitoring the integration of Social Development
into Open Forum’s activities, the human
rights policy will be implemented in different
ways along internal organizational responsibilities.
• Instruments and tools will be adapted
with a view to integrating human rights into
Open Forum’s activities on all levels.
Roles and responsibilities for a coherent implementation
of the human rights commitments within Open
Forum’s working instruments and methods
will be clarified.
• A communication strategy will be developed
to make Open Forum’s units aware of the
commitment, and its implications for their work.
This will include editing and translating: the
updated policy; a working paper; frequently
asked questions; and a brochure on human rights
that is accessible for practitioners.
• Synergies and linkages with other Open
Forum’s priorities and policies will be
explored and developed (e.g. human rights in
promoting access to public services such as
health care, to water; human rights in conflict
prevention) as well as with other actors in
the Swiss administration.
• Open Forum’s capacity to understand
and promote human rights will be strengthened.
Experience will be capitalized on more systematically,
in order to profit as much as possible from
lessons learnt in particular country contexts.
Training will be adapted to the various needs
of the participants.
